Iran's complex political system combines elements of a modern Islamic theocracy with democracy. The whole system operates under a Supreme Leader who is, in theory, appointed by an elected body but is in practice answerable to no-one. The key question is how this system develops in the ongoing struggle between reformists and conservatives. It is also a political experiment and its performance is keenly watched by secularists and Islamists elsewhere in the Muslim world.

Click on the chart to learn more about how Iran's political system works and who really wields the power.